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The BMW K 1600 GT is voted "International Bike Of The Year 2011‘«ō. The BMW K 1600 GT gets the top vote of the international motorcycle press jury at the Brussels Motor Show.
18.01.2012
Munich. The BMW K 1600 GT has won the vote for the ‘«£International Bike Of The Year 2011 (IBOTY)" award. This was announced at a press conference given by the Belgian motorcycle magazine Motor Wereld at the Brussels Motor Show. The award for the K 1600 GT comes from an international jury representing 25 motorcycle magazines.

The K 1600 GT convinced the motorcycle journalists with its unique combination of comfort, performance and use of innovative technologies. The powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine was said to offer power, refinement and lots of fun. The bike's sophisticated technology - in addition to ABS, traction control and navigation system, an adaptive headlight and electronically controlled suspension with various modes increase active riding safety - makes the K 1600 GT an incomparable touring motorcycle. On the road, the outstanding qualities of the K 1600 GT are its agile chassis and unusually light handling. All this gives the rider a unique riding experience, according to the jury, impressing the most demanding touring and sports motorcyclists.

The K 1600 GTL was rated separately and also convinced the jury, finishing fourth, while the S 1000 RR followed it in fifth place alongside the Kawasaki ZX-10R. With three models in the top five places, the BMW Motorrad put in a highly impressive showing overall.

New city slickers: The MINI Baker Street and MINI Bayswater. Olympic host city and style capital London provides fresh design inspiration for MINI special editions. New models boast exclusive equipment and tradition-laced titles.

Valencia, 26th January 2012. The BMW S 1000 RR is back on the track: Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport continued its preparation for the 2012 season with two days of testing (25th to 26th January) at Valencia in Spain. The winter test ban in the FIM Superbike World Championship expired on 15th January. Factory riders, Marco Melandri (ITA) and Leon Haslam (GBR), completed a total of 950 kilometres of testing on the 2012 race version of the RR. The weather was mostly sunny with some clouds on the second day, the air temperature reached 15 degrees Celsius, the track temperature 18 degrees Celsius.

Programme:
During this test, Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport focused on verifying the latest developments it has made in recent weeks. The bikes were equipped with the latest version of the engine which proved to work perfectly. This applies also to all the new parts in several areas of the bike. The team also worked with updated software for the BMW electronics and was able to further improve the electronics and riding dynamics strategies.

Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport has drawn a positive conclusion from this test. The bike was working as expected in all areas. This allows the team to now focus on fine tuning the chassis and the electronics. Despite the cool track temperatures, the team was able to collect important information in order to prepare for the next tests.

In around two weeks’ time, Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport will travel to Phillip Island (AUS) where the FIM Superbike Word Championship’s 2012 season will officially start on 26th February. Before that the team will conduct two more tests at the Australian circuit: from 13th to 15th February and at the official Infront Test on 20th and 21st February.

Marco Melandri:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
“It was good to be back on the bike after the winter. The testing of the updated electronics was very encouraging. We checked if everything is working well before we go to Australia, and the result was good. Of course we still need to improve in some areas. In entering corners, I still need some more confidence on the bike in order so I am to push properly. Phillip Island is not an easy track, so it is important to be confident with the bike to be able to go into the corners very fast. I am sure that we will find further improvements for the next test and the race in Australia.

In the next two weeks I will keep in contact with the team and we will analyse the data from the test to prepare for Australia. In addition, I will do a lot of training.”

Leon Haslam:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
“It was a long winter back home and I am definitely happy to be back on the bike. We were lucky with the conditions. It was a bit cold in the morning, but we were able to get most out of the two days. We got through everything that we needed to go through, so I am very positive. These two days were important. We have a lot of new things for this year and it was good to test before we go to Phillip Island. In addition, it was good to get a few laps under our belts and get up to speed again. We definitely made big steps and are much further ahead compared to last year. It really is a stronger package and we still have five more days to test in Australia to dial it all in.

Next week I will go to Germany to meet the team there. Then I will fly back home, do some PR-Events and continue my training programme, and then we will be already heading to Australia.”

Munich/Biandronno. As of January 2012 personnel changes will take place within Husqvarna Motorcycles. Dr. Timo Poser (39) has been working with the BMW Group since 2002, formerly in charge of Controlling at BMW Japan, will take over responsibilities as Director of Finance at Husqvarna Motorcycles. His predecessor Thomas Moser (52) after 4 years with Husqvarna Motorcycles will take over a new challenging position within the BMW Group...MORE

The new BMW M GmbH product range offers customers more ways to experience Sheer Driving Pleasure with an even sharper sporting edge. The BMW M Performance Automobiles stand out with their exceptionally powerful engines, enhanced agility and precision handling, their emotion-laden design and unrestricted everyday practicality, and their impressive efficiency given the performance on offer. All are based on current BMW models, BMW M GmbH using its vast pool of expertise to carry out carefully targeted technical and design modifications...MORE

When the N??rburgring 24 Hours is staged for the 40th time, BMW will line up with a factory-supported customer team in the form of BMW Team Schubert. The car charged with this task is the BMW Z4 GT3...MORE

The BMW X6 is the world's first ever Sports Activity Coup?ģ, still a unique combination of sporty dynamics and supreme versatility and with further enhanced appeal from spring 2012. Selective modifications in design and innovative equipment features hone the profile of the new BMW X6 as a distinctive model within the premium segment of all-wheel-drive automobiles...MORE

The “Sportsman Flyer Company” started not as a business, but as a hobby. I have built and collected cars and bicycles for years and have always wanted to add a Schwinn Whizzer motorized bicycle to my collection. While keeping my eyes open for just the right bike I started seeing motorized bicycles around with newer two stroke engines. I decided to build one and found a vintage Schwinn Panther frame to start with. This particular frame, commonly called a straight bar frame because of it's unique middle frame tube in the front triangle, is very similar in shape to early motorcycles. Gas tanks were added into the pocket between the top and middle frame tubes on these early motorcycles, so it only made sense to build a gas tank to fit the Panther frame in the same fashion. Using my fabrication and CAD design skills I designed and built my first in-frame gas tank that fit the Panther frame perfectly. Soon I had people asking if I could build more of these gas tanks. As I continued with my own build I quickly discovered that most of the unique vintage style parts I needed were simply not available. This led to the development of a series of vintage style parts not available anywhere else. Soon people were requesting custom frame and tank kits, as well as seats, handlebars, wheels, and mounts for more powerful engines. The Sportsman Flyer Company was born.

The driving fun sewn into the fabric of every MINI never fails to bring a smile to the face. And now it can also be enjoyed ‘«Ű with the roof up or down ‘«Ű in the first model from the brand designed strictly for two people. The MINI Roadster is the sixth model in the British premium carmaker‘«÷s line-up and the first open-top two-seater in the brand‘«÷s history. This typically MINI interpretation of a compact roadster gives the small car segment another shot in the arm. Powerful engines and sophisticated chassis technology with model-specific tuning see to it that the characteristic MINI go-kart feeling is always on tap...MORE

BMW Motorsport returns with six BMW M3 DTM cars in 2012 as it makes its comeback in the DTM. One of the cars, the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, will bear the design of Castrol EDGE and Aral Ultimate. This marks an extension of the existing, long-term partnership between Castrol and BMW Motorsport, and sees Aral Ultimate presented as partner of BMW Motorsport in the DTM.

Cage World

FWIW

GAWD I'm Fickled

The Robb leaves BMW thread caught my attention on the 28th. I really do like it when BR&TMR gets scooped by another member, but that is another story. Three days later BMW publishes a press release and my curiosity is taken in a who new direction.

Stories like this are fascinating in a gearhead - movie/rock star story kind of way. I'll admit to being a bit surprised, I really should not be, at some of the emotions David Robb's designs and departure brought out. I played my part in the thread too.

Robb and his replacement Edgar Heinrich live those kind of gearhead life I dreamed of as a kid. In my day dream version I would be part of Ferrari's racing design team until Colin Chapman would headhunt me away to be his replacement. I planed on balancing my jet-set F1 lifestyle with alone time riding the latest sport bikes of the day around Europe.

Back on planet earth BMW was probably putting out some publicity fires when published their press release announcing Heinrich. With all sorts of due respect to Robb, he became yesterdays news when I reached paragraph two of the press release.

In July 2009 his career took him to India. As Vice President Product Design with the Indian vehicle manufacturer Bajaj Auto LTD he currently heads up the styling and model studio, responsible for brand definition and brand strategies for two-wheel and four-wheel design.

Man I love it when potential story lines come together.

Since Bajaj purchased its first shares of KTM my curiosity has been peaked in a couple of ways. First is what their long term goal for the guys in orange would be. Still wondering about that. As their stake in the Austrian bike maker increased it became clear that a goodly chunk production would be heading to India. Recent articles from Indian sites I follow have been talking about coming KTM models intended primarily for the Indian market.

At the same time the KTM/Bajaj story has been developing I have been wondering when BMW would head in the same direction. China may be the promised land for MINI, BMW and even Rolls-Royce but India is where I think BMW Motorrad has the greatest potential.

...I'm getting ahead of myself and the story/rumor mongering...

We hear about stories like this when they are full grown. We have to wait and dig to find out what their genesis is, if we ever do. What we must all realize is there are much longer in the making and more complex than three days and argument with a co-worker. Even at the gearhead rock star level that Robbs and Heinricks move in it takes more than three days to start and put together changes like this.

Posters have pointed out that BMW has a corporate norm that has executives leaving at around age 60. I will leave the value spin on that to you. Robb is roughly 56 and Heinrich is 53 so not much difference there. What ever spin you put on age 60 exits it does not look like Heinrich will be occupying the seat as long as Robb. So why was he brought in? (my segway to paragraph 6 of the release)

As Edgar Heinrich himself says: "I am very pleased to be returning to BMW Motorrad and having the great opportunity to be involved in shaping the two-wheel future of the BMW Group with an outstanding team."

This is going to be fun. Would someone get me another Irish on the rocks to go along with the popcorn.

New Head of Design for BMW Motorrad. Edgar Heinrich takes over the BMW Group's BMW Motorrad Design Studio.
TOP
30.01.2012
Munich. Edgar Heinrich (53) will be taking over the BMW Group's BMW Motorrad Design Studio as of July 1st 2012. He succeeds David Robb. After completing his university degree in design, Edgar Heinrich started his career as a motorcycle designer with BMW back in 1986. Within the BMW Group‘«÷s BMW Motorrad Design Studio he was Head of Vehicle Design Motorcycles under the overall direction of David Robb from 2007 to 2009.

In July 2009 his career took him to India. As Vice President Product Design with the Indian vehicle manufacturer Bajaj Auto LTD he currently heads up the styling and model studio, responsible for brand definition and brand strategies for two-wheel and four-wheel design.

During his time with BMW Motorrad, Edgar Heinrich was responsible for such vehicles as the first 4-valve boxer models R 1100 RS and RT, the K 1200 S and R, the HP Megamoto and the victorious Paris-Dakar racing machines. The successful R 1150 GS and R 1200 GS were also created on his drawing board.

Under his direction, the motorcycle design team created the S 1000 RR, the F 800 / 650 series, the G 450 X and also the BMW Custom Concept study. Heinrich was even involved at the start of the design development of the 6‑cylinder touring bikes and the new maxi-scooters.

Motorcycles take up a large part of his leisure time, too. His passions include modifying sports bikes, restoring and collecting vintage models and in particular riding motorcycles himself - both on and off the road.

As Edgar Heinrich himself says: "I am very pleased to be returning to BMW Motorrad and having the great opportunity to be involved in shaping the two-wheel future of the BMW Group with an outstanding team."

"Edgar Heinrich is an excellent motorcycle designer and passionate motorcyclist who has already made key contributions to BMW Motorrad design in the course of his many years of experience. I very much look forward to collaborating with him to take BMW Motorrad design to ongoing success in the future," said Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.

David Robb (56), the previous head of the BMW Group Motorcycle Design Studio, has left the company. He was in charge of BMW Motorrad design for 18 years. Under his leadership, the design team elaborated the development of the BMW Motorrad product portfolio from three to a current total of six model lines, as well as creating the extensive product range of BMW Motorrad rider equipment and motorcycle accessories.

The first motorcycle designed under David Robb's direction was the BMW K 1200 RS. This was followed by such models as the first BMW cruiser R 1200 C, the innovative K series with transversely mounted 4-cylinder engine, the F series with 2-cylinder parallel twin and the most successful BMW motorcycle of all time, the travel enduro R 1200 GS. The design concept of the latter is regarded to this day as the benchmark in the category of big enduro bikes. Recently there were additional highlights such as the BMW motorcycles with in-line 6-cylinder engine, the K 1600 GT/GTL, and the BMW superbike S 1000 RR. The first BMW maxi-scooters C 600 Sport and C 650 GT only recently saw their world premiere in autumn 2011.

Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design: "I would like to thank David Robb for his many years of successful work and wish him all the very best for the future."

The racing season is beginning to heat up. Tests for both SBK and MotoGP are underway in anticipation of the seasons first races. F1 is in its beauty pageant car reveal phase before it buckles down and takes 2012 season seriously on the track. For all that will be written about bikes cars riders and drivers in the remaining time before the first red lights go green and the seasons begin the most important stories for this and the rest of this decade's racing season are taking place in board rooms away from the track.

SBK/MotoGP

Bridgepoint owns both SBK's Infront and MotoGP's Dorna. We will be spending a lot of time talking about how the rules are being revised for both of these series. Stories and rumors will make it to print about negotiations with the series promotors, FIM and various manufacturers. These will be very interesting, cause great debate and I will cover as much as possible. Yet in the coming months and years the most important stories for the fans of these two series will take place behind closed doors at Bridgepoint.

In very simple crude terms Bridgepoint is in racing for the money it can make promoting the two series. To do this they will take part in all the meetings and negotiations related to the above paragraph. The more important job ahead of them is how to make money for themselves and everyone else involved.

How will the series differ from each other?
How will they be promoted?
Can they keep us and new fans interested enough to put fans in stands behind tubes and computer screens in ways that pay for all of this?
Most important of all: can they attract sponsor and their dollars for the series, teams and the racers?

We will see or ignore the results of these most important meetings without ever directly being told about them in all likelihood.

Formula 1

Open wheel racing at this level is in its normal state of upheaval. Unlike the two wheeled world F1 likes to do this out in the open; for the most part. There are two stories we will not have direct access to.

The teams are in disarray. FOTA is fractured and like Humpty Dumpty may not be able to be put back together again. Again we will read about this all season. What we will not read about is are the meetings inside Luca Cordero di Montezemolo's head.

In the business world Montezemolo is important for his money his role in Fiat. Fromula 1 team owners may see him as a peer but as the head of Ferrari he, like the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he is the first among those equals. What decides is best for Ferrari becomes what he sees as best for Formula 1. The others will debate. Compromises will be reached. Open wheeled world championships could happen with out Ferrari but there is no F1 without it.

We will read his decisions but what the real story is will remain locked inside his head.

BMW may bounce executives at age 60 but F1 Suprimo Bernie Ecclestone turns 82 this year. Like the Energizer Bunny he shows no sign of stopping any time soon. Alpha Prema (CVC Capital Partners 70% - JP Morgan 10% with Bernie holding the rest.) owns the series and seems more than happy for Bernie to continue as Formula 1's head.

Physics tell us that no matter how strong they are at some point the bunnies batteries will run out. Anticipating that we keep a backup set if we are thinking. What do Bernie's partners have as a backup plan. Pivotal to the future of F1 it is the other story we will remain in the dark about.

Thursday, 2 February

BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team – Profile
31.01.2012
Monza, 31 January 2012 – The works-supported BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team will contest its second Superbike World Championship season in 2012, with the team entering a brace of BMW S 1000 RRs for Italian riders Ayrton Badovini and Michel Fabrizio.

Andrea Buzzoni, Director of BMW Motorrad Italia and manager of the Superbike project will lead the team, together with Sporting Director Serafino Foti and Technical Director Gerardo “Dino” Acocella. The factory BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team will provide engines and electronics for the RR.

The team arrived on the international scene in 2010, making a more than respectable debut in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, with the BMW S 1000 RR giving a good account of itself in the hands of Ayrton Badovini, who immediately made the series his own. The Italian won nine of the ten rounds, the majority of them emphatically. By August, three races before the end, he and BMW Motorrad Italia had clinched the title, and after their successful first international season a move into the Superbike World Championship was a logical step.

In its debut year in the top category for production-based bikes BMW Motorrad Italia contracted double world champion James Toseland (GBR) as team-mate to Badovini. However, following a fall during testing in March 2011 in which he suffered serious wrist injuries, the Briton missed the majority of races, eventually returning briefly in the late summer before hanging up his helmet for good in September.

BMW Motorrad Italia appointed Lorenzo Lanzi (ITA), Javier Fores (ESP) and Barry Veneman (NED) as substitutes for Toseland.
Badovini assumed the team leader role, assuring a successful debut season for his squad. His best result was fourth place in his home race in Misano, with the Italian scoring a total of four top six finishes and regularly finishing in the top ten. Badovini placed tenth overall in the 2011 classification, having scored 165 points.

In 2012 GoldBet becomes title sponsor and will substantially contribute to the appearance of the team. In addition, BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team has contracted Ayrton Badovini’s compatriot Michel Fabrizio as team-mate to the Italian. The 27-year-old has contested the Superbike World Championship since 2006, scoring four wins, a further 29 podium places and one pole position. “Michel is an extremely talented rider, and I am sure our technical and personal support will enable him to show his full potential. With Michel and Ayrton it will be a good all-Italian team of riders and engineers combined with the extraordinary BMW technology,” says Buzzoni.

BMW Motorrad Italia will also contest the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup. In 2011 Lorenzo Zanetti (ITA) and Sylvain Barrier (FRA) placed third and fourth overall in the series respectively. Barrier will again contest the Superstock 1000 Cup for BMW Motorrad Italia, with Lorenzo Baroni (ITA) as team-mate.

cyrilhuzeblog.com: Harley Sportster new cafe racer style parts by Steve Storz
The StreetTracker King does Cafe

The Mothership

Munich/Biandronno. As of February 1 2012 personnel changes will take place within Husqvarna Motorcycles. Maximilian Kalbfell (38), working with the BMW Group since 2003, will take over the responsibilities as Head of Marketing and Sales of Husqvarna Motorcycles.

Munich. From now on, all newly developed BMW Motorrad helmets will bear the key visual. The new "BMW helmets" logo emphasises the capability and expertise of BMW Motorrad in relation to motorcycle helmets, showing clearly that these are products of the very highest quality, safety and comfort.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 1, 2012… The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported January sales of 19,739 vehicles, an increase of 5.8 percent from the 18,656 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago

Munich, 2nd February 2012. BMW Motorsport and the global Sportlifestyle brand PUMA are back together in the world of motorsport. As part of an extensive cooperation, PUMA has become the ‘«£Official Supplier BMW Motorsport‘«ō for team and racewear for BMW Motorsport operations in the DTM, American Le Mans Series, and endurance races such as the N??rburgring 24 Hours (DE). PUMA will also assume the role of Exclusive Licensed Partner for the BMW Motorsport product categories of ‘«£Footwear‘«ō, ‘«£Apparel‘«ō and ‘«£Accessories‘«ō.

‘«£It is great to have such a well-known and reliable partner as PUMA on board again at such an exciting time for us,‘«ō said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. ‘«£The link between BMW Motorsport and this successful company has grown over the years and goes as far back as the 2004 season. It is hard to imagine our team and driver apparel without the characteristic PUMA logo. As a strong partner in the field of licensed products, PUMA will play a major role in ensuring that our fans around the world enjoy the products from the BMW Motorsport collections.‘«ō

The PUMA logo will not only be prominent on the apparel of the drivers, team members and management, but also on the BMW Motorsport cars ‘«Ű whether the BMW M3 DTM, BMW M3 GT or BMW Z4 GT3. PUMA will also develop licensed products for global sales and distribution. This will strengthen the presence of BMW Motorsport products in key European markets, as well as significantly expanding sales performance in emerging markets in Asia and the Americas.

Christian Voigt, Senior Head of Global Sports Marketing at PUMA, said: ‘«£PUMA is delighted to once again be working with BMW Motorsport, following the successes we enjoyed with them through their tenure in Formula One. BMW‘«÷s heritage in competitive motorsport and automotive engineering is so impressive, and their global profile derived from this makes them another strong partner for PUMA in motorsport. Through our experience in licensed product development and distribution we are fully confident this will be a successful partnership for both parties, and we hope it will continue to grow in the years to come.‘«ō

Dr. Thomas Goerdt, Head of Lifestyle Collections in the BMW Group, added: ‘«£From 2012, BMW will be even more active and prominent in motorsport than it has been in recent years. For this reason, securing this partnership with PUMA was a priority for BMW Lifestyle right from the start. As leading sport lifestyle brand, PUMA boasts a unique wealth of expertise and proficiency in developing and distributing licensed products on a global scale. Bearing in mind the great success we have enjoyed together in the past, we are looking forward to continuing this partnership.‘«ō

It seems like no time at all since Marco Melandri put pen to paper to agree to ride for the factory BMW team, but soon he will be lining up to race against the best in the world again in what is arguably the biggest team in the paddock. BMW recently sent out a release featuring an interview with Melandri, a condensed version of which follows here.

What were your first impressions of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team?
"That it was very big! That was a bit unusual for me in the beginning. But now we are all working together, and trying to use the full potential of all the resources and people available to us."

What are your thoughts on the BMW S 1000 RR?
"I am happy with it. Before I tested it for the first time, some people made me very scared because I had some bad experiences with the Ducati in 2008. When I jumped on the bike for the first time I discovered some difficult areas, but I was also pleasantly surprised by many of its positives. During the test with the 2011 bike I saw that it is a ‘«ˇnormal' bike without any pitfalls. We just need to take the pieces and put them together in the best way to provide the optimal package. Of course it was a lot of work over the winter, and we will see how long it takes us to have this optimal package. However, I am happy about the bike and about how it feels, so I am very confident. I think good confidence is the only thing a rider needs to be fast."

How well do you get on with Leon Haslam?
"We get on very well. I have known him since the time I lived fairly close to him in England. I think it is good for the team for us to be team-mates because it means we can push each other, which is good for results. We do have different riding styles, but we have agreed on what changes to make to the bike so that we can work in the same direction in order to move the team forward."

What are your personal strengths - and weaknesses?
"I always try to improve myself in those areas where I have weaknesses. That is not always easy. One of my strengths is that in races I am always stronger compared to testing and practice. I don't know why. I'm a racer. I love racing, and as soon as a race starts I always try to give it a bit more than in practice."

What is your target for the 2012 season?
"To have fun. When I am fast I score good results - and I always enjoy doing that. That is why that is my target. I would like to have some good fights, score good results and feel good on the bike. Then it is a lot of good fun - and the good results will also be there."

Munich. On 1 February 2012, BMW Classic Parts Supply launched its new online shop. Now customers can order spare parts for their BMW classics speedily, easily and from the comfort of their home.
For BMW Classic the online shop represents ‘«£the next phase in the realignment of the business field and a further logical step towards customer satisfaction and customer-oriented service‘«ō, noted Ralf Vierlein, Head of Sales and Aftersales at BMW Group Classic.
Customers can visit the online shop at http://shop.bmw-classic.de, search for appropriate spare parts for their classic vehicles and order them online. Furthermore, information is provided on the suitability of parts for various model ranges. This service is currently available for customers in Germany. Starting in April 2012 this service will be expanded to further European markets.
The range of parts in the new online shop currently totals some 35,000 items for classic BMW cars and motorcycles dating from 1960 to around 1990. Large, heavy spare parts, dangerous goods and materials, electronic components and yard goods are excluded from the range.
For customers, the online Parts Shop will not only make the search for spare parts much easier, it will also facilitate the replacement process: when a component is purchased, a BMW partner is automatically recommended to help the customer restore his or her classic vehicle and to provide technical support.
The BMW Classic Parts Supply online shop will be presented for the first time at the Bremen Exhibition Centre during the Bremen Classic Motorshow, which takes place from 3 ‘«Ű 5 February 2012.
The online shop can be accessed with immediate effect on the BMW Classic website at www.bmw-classic.de and www.bmw-classic.com.

The announcement of exactly which drivers will be in which of the three BMW Motorsport teams marks another milestone en route to BMW's first race in the new DTM era.

[url=https://www.press.bmwgroup-sport.com/pressclub/p/sp/pressDetail.html?outputChannelId=52&id=T0124749EN&left_menu_item=node__7124BMW Motorsport [/url]was a prominent feature in many regards at the Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe‘«÷s ‘«£Ball des Sports‘«ō on Saturday evening. The arrival of BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, along with BMW DTM drivers, Bruno Spengler (CA) and Dirk Werner (DE), was in keeping with the occasion: they and their partners pulled up to the Rhein-Main-Hallen in Wiesbaden (DE) in the new BMW M3 DTM Safety Car. Based on the BMW M3 GTS, the car was specially modified by BMW M GmbH for use on several DTM race weekends over the course of the 2012 season. The modifications included the use of many products from the new BMW M Performance Accessories range. The most spectacular changes are the orange lights on the roof of the car, which are typical of Safety Cars, and the bolted, steel-pipe safety cell